More than simply a gallery, DiverseWorks has played a pivotal role in fostering Houston’s art scene since the early 1980s by seeking out artists and programming unlikely to find a home elsewhere in the city. The organization moved into the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston in 2015, and it has since taken advantage of its expanded access to gallery and performance spaces by commissioning new works, hosting vital conversations about culture and aesthetics, and serving as a resource for artists and thinkers throughout the city’s diverse community. 3400 Main St., Ste. 292, Houston

With a razor-sharp focus on the medium of photography, the Houston Center for Photography, along with Houston’s biennial FotoFest, has helped make the city one of the great centers for the exploration and understanding of the photographic image. In addition to regular exhibitions, the center also provides educational programming and produces publications. 1441 W. Alabama St., Houston

Collector Alden Pinnell transformed an old electric power station near Dallas’ Fair Park and turned it into one of the most innovative art spaces in the state. A few times a year, Pinnell commissions some of the world’s most renowned artists to create site-specific installations. Often responding to the raw, industrial-brick building that hosts the exhibitions, artists at The Power Station push the boundaries of what contemporary art can be and produce thoughtful journals that accompany each exhibition. The openings at The Power Station are often see-and-be-seen events for Dallas’ art community and collectors, as well as for curators and dealers from around the world. 3816 Commerce St., Dallas

Just around the corner from The Power Station, the tiny, one-room Reading Room punches way beyond its modest space with a continual stream of thoughtful exhibitions, public readings, and creative events. 3715 Parry Ave., Dallas

The tiny West Texas town of Albany has become a surprising arts mecca thanks to its incredible art collection in the first permanently constructed jail in Shackelford County. The historic jail owes its survival to author and playwright Robert E. Nail, who purchased the building in the 1940s. When Nail’s nephews inherited the jail, they thought it would make the perfect setting for their extensive collection of 20th-century art. Today, in addition to exhibiting that collection, The Old Jail Art Center also hosts exhibitions by some of Texas’ most engaging contemporary artists. 201 S. 2nd St., Albany

Seminal 20th-century minimalist sculptor Donald Judd put the tiny town of Marfa on the art world’s map, but Ballroom Marfa has done some heavy lifting in fostering the West Texas town’s local culture since it opened in 2003. Today, the art space hosts exhibitions by significant local and international artists, in addition to hosting events curated around explorations into the visual arts, film, music, and performance. The scope of programming places it at an intriguing midpoint between gallery and museum. 108 E. San Antonio St., Marfa

Operated by Texas Christian University, Fort Worth Contemporary Arts quickly established itself as a hub of conversation and artistic exploration within Dallas-Fort Worth’s art scene. Its exhibitions often highlight some of the cutting-edge thinking in the world of contemporary art. 2900 West Berry St., Fort Worth

Women & Their Work has been a vital part of Austin’s art community for more than 40 years. Showcasing female artists, the organization exhibits contemporary art, funds artist projects, and hosts performances. 1710 Lavaca St., Austin

The Austin nonprofit Big Medium is more than just a place to see great art. The organization runs studio tours, hosts the Texas Biennial exhibition, and provides studio space for artists. 916 Springdale Road, Building 2, #101, Austin

When collector Linda Pace founded Artpace, she wanted the arts organization to function as a laboratory for new ideas. The organization offers a residency that brings artists from around Texas and the world to San Antonio. There, they create new work, stage exhibitions, and participate in projects that engage with the city’s diverse communities. 445 N. Main Ave., San Antonio

This bustling Midwest Texas artistic hub exhibits work by contemporary Texas artists throughout the year in its five gallery spaces, as well as renting studio space to 10 artists. The center has a particularly strong focus on regional art, international photography, and short films. 220 Cypress St., Abilene